STAR Transition to a Personal Income Tax Credit (PIT)

MAYVILLE, N.Y.: --The 2016-17 New York State Budget is changing the STAR school property tax exemption and is being transitioned to a new personal income tax (PIT) credit program. The legislation also allows those property owners eligible for the PIT credit to receive an accelerated payment directly from New York State.  To see how this may affect you read more...

MAYVILLE, N.Y.:-- Chautauqua County, acting as the lead agency, recently submitted a multi-government efficiency plan to the New York State Division of Budget as part of the state’s Property Tax Freeze Credit program.

The multi-government efficiency plan included the participation of 30 of the 45 government entities in the county and it demonstrates a projected local savings of nearly $13 million during the years of 2017 through 2019. Some of these efficiencies also started as early as 2012.

Some of the most notable savings in the plan are through:

• The privatization of the Chautauqua County Home with an approximate $2.6 million per year savings in IGT Funding;

• The Towns of Dunkirk, Pomfret, Portland, Sheridan and Village of Brocton participating in the North County Water District saving $365,118 per year during the plan year of 2017 through 2019;

• The merger of the Chautauqua County’s Department of Social Services and Department of Health into the Department of Health and Human Services with an ongoing savings of $235,000 per year;

• The City of Jamestown’s reduction and realignment of staff duties while maintaining the same level of services resulted in $190,961 of ongoing savings;

• The restructuring of the Westfield Department of Public Works with an ongoing savings of $123,212; and

• The reduction of the size of the Chautauqua County Legislature with a savings of $67,000 each year.

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County Legislator Terry Niebel threw a curve-ball last week in regard to the recent discussion regarding the raising of the sales tax from 7.5 to 8 percent. In a commentary that appeared in our May 17 edition, Niebel believes - like fellow legislators - that if the state agrees to the increase, property taxes must be reduced.

His proposal, however, is not in line with some early suggestions of 3 percent. He wants to take it a bit further: a 5 percent property tax decrease.

"This half-percent (sales-tax) increase will raise yearly revenues by $7.8 million," Niebel wrote. "The main reasons given for supporting the sales-tax increase is that it will provide tax relief for homeowners and correct an ongoing structural deficit problem."

Read More in The Observertoday